Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Trainer Ryan Bell’s dependable pacer Hillview Bondi should appreciate a considerable drop in class and prove hard to beat when he lines up at barrier four in the $21,000 Smooth FM On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bell engaged 21-year-old Joey Suvaljko to drive Hillview Bondi to make use of his novice concession to enable the gelding to contest this event.
A victory would give Suvaljko a notable milestone, his 50TH winner. He has handled Hillview Bondi only once in the gelding’s 87-start career, 34 starts ago, on August 6, 2021, when Hillview Bondi was the $1.85 favourite from barrier six. Unfortunately, Hillview Bondi hit the arm of the mobile barrier in the score-up and broke into a bad gallop. He then was tailed off and finished last, 119m from the winner Joey James.
Hillview Bondi gave an outstanding display last Friday night when he led from the No. 1 barrier and defied an early challenge from the odds-on favourite Lusaka before setting a brisk pace and fighting on with grim determination to finish second, a half-length behind star pacer Lavra Joe, with Lusaka in third place.
Hillview Bondi’s main rivals this week appear to be Regal Cheval (barrier six) and Cordero, who will start from the outside in the field of seven.
Trainer Gary Hall Jnr will drive ten-year-old Regal Cheval, who possesses excellent gate speed and could well challenge Hillview Bondi for the early lead.
Evergreen pacer Rock Me Over continues to race with youthful enthusiasm for part-owner and trainer Matt Scott, and the ten-year-old will have many admirers when Chris Voak drives him from barrier seven in the Trotsynd Join The Fun Pace over 2130m.
Rock Me Over improved his remarkable record to 28 wins, 73 placings and $451,564 in prizemoney from 238 starts when he enjoyed a perfect trip, one-out and one-back, before Aiden De Campo dashed him to the front 100m from the post. He went on to win by a half-length from Gee Smith.
Rock Me Over’s toughest rivals appear to be Navy Street and My Ultimate Chevron.
Emily Suvaljko will drive Navy Street from barrier three for owner-trainer Karen Thompson, and the gelding has bright prospects of repeating his performance of last week when he burst to the front from barrier five, set a solid pace and won in good style from Lets Get Rockin, rating 1.57.3 over 2130m.
My Ultimate Chevron, to be driven by Maddison Brown for trainer Michael Young, will start from the No. 6 barrier. He began from barrier seven last Friday night when he was sixth at the bell before finishing strongly, out wide, to be third behind Mandown and Mister Montblanc.